By Christopher Matthews On one of the most beautiful days of the year upstate (so far), the fifth annual Ramp Fest, a culinary celebration of “the wild onion of myth and mystery”, took place last Saturday (5/2/15) at Basilica Hudson in Hudson, NY. … Continue reading →

By Christopher Matthews The severe drought in California is making not only headlines, but also for some tough, long-term choices. Perhaps this is only a nasty — and lengthy — cyclical drought, and the rains will return, as they have in the past. But that’s not … Continue reading →

By Christopher Matthews At the Wine Media Guild’s (WMG) recent lunch on April 1, 2015 at Felidia, there was no fooling around: the theme was Alsace, featuring the aromatic, earthy and food-friendly white varietal wines it produces so well — … Continue reading →

By Christopher Matthews Before going to our friends’ house for a Boxing Day gathering during the holidays, I stopped by Sipperly’s, our local wine shop upstate, for a gift bottle of wine. As I’ve mentioned before, the store’s layout is chaotic, … Continue reading →

By Christopher Matthews October 17, 1932 was a bad day for Dutch Schultz, the legendary mobster, bootlegger and racketeer. After several attempts, Federal agents finally raided and shut down an elaborate bootlegging operation, bankrolled by Schultz, on a Pine Plains, … Continue reading →